0 View Gallery View Comments Not every member of the Colorado Springs Police Department's K-9 unit started as a dog person. But they are now. The specialized unit's 17 officers spend more time with their four-legged partners than with their families, forming a unique and fluid relationship that aids in drug busts, searches and seizures, chases, traffic stops and serving warrants. "It's a bond between you and your dog, almost kind of like a dance," said Officer Brian Kelly, one of the unit's handlers. "You basically learn each other, learn different behaviors." For its work protecting the community the unit has been honored by the Red Cross of Southeastern Colorado as a Hometown Hero. The K-9 unit augments the Police Department's SWAT and patrol units, and also frequently works with the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Related: Hometown Heroes: Air Force Academy cadets rose to challenge of rescuing lost hikers Last year, the 10 dogs and their handlers - including Kelly and his Belgian Malinois, Broc - responded to nearly 4,000 calls for services, resulting in 293 felony arrests, 144 misdemeanor arrests and more than $12 million worth of seized narcotics, Sgt. Brian Cummings said. The K-9 unit also has seven explosive detection dogs, Kelly said. Four are used throughout the city while three are assigned to the airport. With their senses of smell and hearing, the police dogs can detect what humans cannot, Kelly said, recalling a recent search of a 75,000 square foot building where a burglar was running to avoid the police. "He was actually leapfrogging through the building as we were searching," Kelly said. "Broc actually took us up to the third floor like 'Hey man, he's in here.' I guarantee we would have missed him." Sometimes criminals will raid the pantry in an effort to distract police dogs from detecting their drugs, Officer Andy Genta said. But through practice - balancing Continue Reading

The Colorado Springs Police Department’s Violent Crimes section is investigating after a woman was found not breathing and non-responsive in a residence Saturday morning. The woman, who was found in the 3400 block of Kirkwood Drive just after 5 a.m., is in critical condition at a local hospital, according to a Colorado Springs news release. Police said the incident was an active criminal investigation. Anyone with information about what happened to the woman is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000 or the anonymous Crime Stoppers tip line at 719-634-7867. Continue Reading

0 View Gallery View Comments Officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department are investigating an incident that left a woman in critical and unstable condition. The department initially stated it was a suspicious death, but have since corrected that information. It's in the 3400 block of Kirkwood Drive. That's near Milton E. Proby Parkway and Hancock Expressway in southeast Springs. Related: Suspicious device left at Florence Police Department; bomb squad en route The incident was reported by police just after 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Read more at KKTV Continue Reading

A Colorado sheriff’s deputy was shot dead, while three other officers suffered gunshot wounds in the line of duty Monday, while investigating a motor vehicle theft. The incident happened in the area of N Murray and Galley around 4 p.m. local time (6 p.m. EST). Officers from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) and Colorado State Patrol were in the area to investigate the theft and approached an adult male suspect. A struggle ensued and shots were fired, which hit El Paso County Sheriff’s deputy Micah Flick, who was killed, two other deputies of the department and a Colorado Springs police officer. A civilian was also injured. Deputy Flick, 34, is survived by his wife and 7-year-old twins. He was killed on the 11th anniversary of his job. El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder said at a news conference, “His current assignment was as a detective in our investigations division and he has served in the jail at CJC's [Criminal Justice Center] floor security and [inaudible] transport with our Special Response Team and on patrol. He was hired Feb. 5, 2007. Thirty-four years old; born Aug. 20, 1983. … Deputy Flick was an outstanding member of my agency and he will be missed.” A procession for Flick was held in Colorado on Monday night. It started at St. Vrain and Hancock and ended at the El Paso County Coroner’s Office. Colorado Springs Police Chief Pete Carey said during the same conference, “The CSPD officer is in surgery right now and in stable condition. One suspect is deceased and there is no continuing threat to the community. … This is indeed a difficult day for our agencies. Tonight there is no distinction between our uniforms: Colorado State Patrol, sheriff's office and the Colorado Springs Police Department. Our hearts our broken” The injured officers were hospitalized and their names were not revealed. The lone suspect was killed, Continue Reading

0 The Colorado Springs Police Department is warning people of a pornographic image involving a toddler and an adult male that is circulating around social media. Police Lt. Howard Black said the image originated out of Alabama but has been distributed nationally. The child is safe, and Alabama law enforcement have identified the man in the image. "We wanted to assure that if the image is popping up on people's feed, they know that law enforcement is handling the case," Black said. He said the case is not being investigated by the Colorado Springs Police Department. (1) CSPD is aware of a pornographic video involving a black male and a black female minor that was posted on Facebook on January 31, 2018. Shortly after the video was reported to law enforcement officials, the minor was located and is safe. — Springs Police (@CSPDPIO) February 1, 2018 (2) Due to the explicit nature and content of the video, it quickly became viral which resulted in the video and original post being shared through a multitude of social media platforms. Law enforcement in Alabama is investigating this case. — Springs Police (@CSPDPIO) February 1, 2018 Continue Reading

0 View Gallery A daylong manhunt for a domestic violence suspect who had been on the run since allegedly exchanging gunfire with officers Friday ended with his capture Saturday afternoon after police were tipped off to where he was hiding. Neal Joseph Arceneaux, 31, was found in a residence in the 1400 block of Bates Drive, where he was arrested without resisting, Colorado Springs police said. Police said in a statement that they believe Arceneaux may be involved in numerous crimes committed over the previous 48 hours leading up to his arrest. The domestic violence incident was reported about 3:40 p.m. Friday in the 5600 block of North Union Boulevard, said Lt. Howard Black, Police Department spokesman. Police said Arceneaux shot at police, then escaped into a northeast Colorado Springs neighborhood after police returned fire. The incident prompted a lockdown on the northeast Colorado Springs neighborhood near Union and Vickers Drive well into the night as officers searched nearby apartment complexes, businesses and open fields. Residents were warned to remain in their homes, away from windows and to not open their doors to strangers. Others weren't allowed to return home for hours while the search was underway. Court records show Arceneaux already had two warrants out for his arrest - one issued on Dec. 15 for felony kidnapping, third-degree assault, theft and harassment and another issued on Dec. 12 for two misdemeanor theft charges and an unlawful purchase from a pawnbroker. Anyone with information or was a witness is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000; or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477. Continue Reading

0 A 27-year-old man is wanted on suspicion of robbing an at-risk adult, a felony, Colorado Springs police announced Thursday. An arrest warrant was issued Tuesday for Jawaan Hagins, court records show. He also is wanted on suspicion of providing false information to a pawn broker, a felony. Hagins previously worked at a care facility for at-risk people, said police Lt. Howard Black. "We're concerned that he is potentially working at another facility," he said. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 444-7000. The Colorado Springs Police Department is looking for Jawaan Hagins. Hagins is currently wanted for Robbery from an at-risk adult. If you know where Hagins is you are encouraged to contact the police department at 719-444-7000. #cspd #police #ColoradoSprings #Colorado #USA pic.twitter.com/DLMJCY7yL9 — Springs Police (@CSPDPIO) January 18, 2018 Continue Reading

0 View Comments The Colorado Springs Police Department will no longer be compiling its tidy "Annual Report" recapping crime numbers, homicides and achievements. The report, which served as a sort of "state of the state of CSPD," was dropped in 2016 as a cost- and time-saving measure, police spokesman Lt. Howard Black said. "It was a huge undertaking," Black said. "It was taking away staff time to do that." Without it, the public will still be able to access a lot of the same data, and "sometimes more detailed data," Black said. Certain crime data will always be reported to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and can still be accessed through those agencies. But CSPD also plans to release its own data through a new city website that is still under development. Rather than waiting for year-end totals, the information will now be available piecemeal on a monthly or quarterly basis, Black said. "(The website has) been in the works for quite some time and I know we're getting closer," Black said. Julie Smith with the city's communications department said the new website is expected to be live by March. Each of the city's agencies will have its own home section within that main site, she said. Much of the information viewers are used to seeing on CSPD's current webpage will transfer to that new space, including annual reports for years 2000-2015 and "Cases of Interest," Black said. - Contact Kaitlin Durbin: 636-0362 Twitter: @njKaitlinDurbin Facebook: Kaitlin Durbin Continue Reading

0 View Comments Five Colorado Springs police cadets who sued the city last year after flunking out of the academy for failing a driving test each has been awarded $1,000 in a settlement. The "amicable resolution" reached in October awarded that money to Sadatur Khan, Jason Harsha, Tyler Kelley, Kelly Robinson and Bailey Carpenter and paid $15,000 to Cornish & Dell'Olio, which represented them, according to the terms provided by the city. The lawsuit was dropped days later. The terms fell far short of the damages sought, which called for the five recruits to be reinstated in the academy and for back pay during the seven months after they were terminated from the program - a sum of nearly $30,000 at the time. Related: UCCS criminal justice students prepare for life-and-death decisions The cadets filed the lawsuit in March, claiming they were unfairly terminated from the 66th recruit class for failing a driving test. They were among eight recruits who instructors said "moved," "wobbled" or "touched" one of the orange cones that outline the driver training course - a series of serpentines, 90-degree turns, high-speed lane changes and other maneuvers, the lawsuit said. After admitting to hitting cones in their first and second attempts, the recruits said, they passed their third runs based on their own observations and met the 70 percent score required by Peace Officers Standards and Training. The POST guidelines do set the minimum passing requirement at 70 percent but say "each academy may apply a higher standard." CSPD's standard requires recruits to pass the written driving exam with 85 percent, but the actual driving maneuverability test is pass/fail. To pass, recruits must complete the test "without striking any cones" and within the set time limit, among other requirements, says the two-page procedure manual that recruits must sign before getting into a car. At least 36 recruits from the 66th academy class met that standard and graduated from the academy Continue Reading

0 UPDATE 12:07 p.m. The police and fire department non-emergency lines are back in service. -- The Colorado Springs police and fire department non-emergency telephone line is down due to technical difficulties Thursday. Officials are asking for people to call 911 only for life-threatening emergencies and hold non-emergency calls for when the problem is fixed. The police communications department tweeted about the issue just before 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Related: Drivers allowed to retrieve cars from scene of fatal K-Mart parking lot shooting, police say Continue Reading